Shloka 22
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
जम्बूद्वीपेन सदृश: क्रौज्चद्वीपो नराधिप । अधरेण महामेरोर्दण्डेन मृदितस्त्वया,नरेश्वर! जम्बूद्वीपके समान ही क्रौज्चद्वीपको जो महामेरुसे पश्चिम है, आपने दण्डसे कुचल दिया है
jambūdvīpena sadṛśaḥ krauñcadvīpo narādhipa | adhareṇa mahāmeror daṇḍena mṛditas tvayā nareśvara ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—اے نرادھپ! جمبودویپ کے مانند کرونچ دویپ ہے۔ وہ مہامِیرو کے زیریں پہلو (مغرب کی سمت) واقع ہے، اور اسے بھی تم نے اپنے دَند سے کچل کر مغلوب کر دیا ہے۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses cosmographic imagery to underscore the reach of royal power (daṇḍa): a king’s authority is portrayed as capable of subduing even vast realms, implying that rulership involves maintaining order through effective sovereignty.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king and describes Kraunca-dvīpa as comparable to Jambū-dvīpa, situated relative to Mount Meru, and says it has been ‘crushed’ by the king’s staff—an image of conquest or overpowering dominion expressed through the symbol of the sceptre.